Tax Season Covid-19 Lockdown

Tax season has always been the most challenging time of year for accountants working in small to medium-size accounting firms. But COVID-19, which has occurred during the traditional tax season for accountants, is a challenge unrivaled in living memory — a deadly global pandemic requiring the voluntary shutdown of a large swath of the Zimbabwean and global economy. While the disruption is clearly an anomaly, some of the changes practitioners needed to adapt to — like an increased reliance on the use of technology — may accelerate long-term changes to the traditional accounting office in Zimbabwe. People are going to get used to the idea that you don’t have to physically travel to meet with people. Whether it’s doing something from your house and working with an accounting firm, either in your town, or another location, when people realize that it can be pretty streamlined and efficient to work electronically and with video conferencing, that will probably change the way people work with their accountants.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced the concept of social distancing. This has severely curtailed and, in many instances, eliminated face-to-face contact with clients since the government mandated lockdown began. Telephone and electronic, online contact have acted as substitutes during the Covid-19 lockdown period. Face-to-Face meetings are decreasing or getting eliminated. Clients are adapting as well. Some firms are retaining good relationships with existing clients. Missing the opportunity to see some of them in person this year —  under less than ideal circumstances — has not, negatively impacted on the relationship. The challenge is more the new clients that you would generally sit down with and get to know. 

But otherwise, communication with clients continues on, albeit in a different fashion than in a normal tax season when a significant number of face-to-face meetings would be on the agenda. Contact with clients has instead been through a combination of emails, phone calls or video conferencing. People seem very understanding of the circumstances. Pretty much without exception, people have adjusted quite well to this. 

For client businesses that already used cloud-based accounting systems, this has meant little or no change in communications. Over the past few years, some small business have converted to cloud-based accounting software and are better prepared to receive expertise and advice. But some clients based in largely rural and agricultural sectors, with many pockets still experiencing poor or no Internet connection, most clients are still paper-based and drop off or scan the firm their paper copies. This tax season, however, they have adapted well in changing their method of communicating.